Do Blackstone Griddles Rust? (Ways To Clean The Rust)

Iron is one principal component of Blackstone griddles. Since iron is prone to rust when exposed to the air, you cannot stop the Blackstone griddles from rusting. It may be a great disappointment once you notice the rust on your favorite cooking pan. But keep your worries aside, as there are ways to clean the rust, plus a few tips to prevent it from rusting again. 

If you live in a location with high humidity, you will need to be extra careful to stop your frying pan from rusting. Let’s understand a few facts about rusting, why rusting happens, and how to clean the rust and prevent it further.

A rusty griddle has an awful appearance and may damage the looks of your kitchen. You want to remove the rust on priority, and herewith are the steps to get rid of that rust.

Materials required:

• Blackstone grill cleaning brick or metal scrubber
• Sesame/Olive/Palm oil
• Paper towels/Griddle cloth rags
• Sandpaper/Steel Wool/Grill stones
• Heatproof Gloves

Make the griddle ready to remove rust

Wear strong heatproof gloves to prevent burns on your hands. Heat the griddle to a high temperature for about 20 minutes. Heating will ease out the rust, allowing you to remove it effortlessly. Shut off the griddle and let it cool down. Start cleaning the griddle as early as possible before the rust hardens again.

Remove rust with a metal scrubber

Scrape the flat surface on the top using a metal scrubber. The rust cleanses off with ease. Repeat to scrub till you experience smoothness that indicates no rust remaining on it.

Cleaning the rust

Use a grill stone to clean your Blackstone griddle. Ensure you have procured the appropriate grill stone having a rough surface on one side. A moderately weighed stone with a handle will ease the cleaning process. Alternatively, you can use a sandstone too. 

You don’t have to use any soap for cleaning. Pour 3-4 tablespoons of oil onto the surface of the cooking pan. Scrub the surface with a grill stone. If you don’t have a grill stone, you can use steel wool or wet-dry sandpaper, or medium grit.

Scrub the griddle by moving the stone in a circular motion across the surface. Ensure to have it done gently to prevent any damage to the surface. After cleaning, you will be happy to see a good-looking shiny griddle.

Later wipe the griddle using a cloth, griddle rags, or paper towels. There might be some rust remaining, invisible to the naked eye. To remove that, repeat the process of adding 3-4 tablespoons of oils and scrubbing with a cloth. Do it until you are sure that all the rust has been eliminated.

The next thing you need to do is to keep the rust away. The process is the seasoning of the griddle to prevent rust. Seasoning helps to add another thick layer of coat to the surface that adds a distinctive flavor and won’t have scratches on it. It ensures the expected taste of the food when cooked on the griddle.

Once done with the seasoning, you will find cleaning the griddle easier. Rusting remains far away, ultimately increasing the life span of the griddle with added durability. You can also apply seasoning to your brand-new griddle to avoid rust for years.

Materials needed for seasoning

Keep ready with you the following things:

• Heatproof gloves
• Sesame/Olive/Palm oil
• Paper towels/Griddle cloth rags
• Cast Iron conditioner or Griddle seasoning
• Squeeze bottles – 2 nos.
• Tongs
• Water

Steps:

1. Preheat the griddle for 10 to 15 mins till you notice the surface turning darker with a seared appearance.
2. Remove the loosened dust/dirt from the griddle surface, using a moist paper towel. 
3. Turn off the griddle. Pour a few drops of oil (anyone from above) on the surface to form a thin layer. Using olive oil is a better option to secure the metal surface. Use squeeze bottles to regulate the flow of oil in a better way.
4. Now heat the griddle again till it smokes. The extreme heat help to bond the metal and the oil together.
5. It will take around 30 minutes to reduce the proportion of smoke. Then turn off the griddle.

The coat over the surface restricts the entrance of moisture and air, keeping your griddle rust-free for a long time. Ensure you season the sides of the griddle also; for easy cleaning and rust avoidance.

You can also apply another layer of oil repeating the same process. It will add an extra security layer against rusting to your griddle.

Let us understand what situations lead to rusting metal. Iron interacts with water and oxygen, and an exchange of electrons occurs, resulting in rusting of the iron. Blackstone griddles comprise iron.

When used in a dry climate, they will rust rarely or not at all, but those along the coastal area are more prone due to the high humidity present in the air.

Anything made with iron is prone to rust. When iron interacts with oxygen and water, it forms a red oxide called rust. Rust is an evident irreparable deterioration of any metal, especially iron. Rust further breaks the molecules of the metal and weakens it. Eventually, it may lead to the rupture of the griddle. 

Age-old griddles are more prone to catch rust than new ones. Food cooked on a rusty griddle may taste unusual. 

Herewith are a few reasons for a Blackstone griddle to catch rust.

1. Moisture is the main culprit that causes rust. If you are staying in a coastal area having high humidity, the possibility of rusting the griddles is high.
2. Outdoor storing of the griddle e.g. in the backyard or lawn also facilitates the iron to interact more with the humidity from the air. 
3. Another reason for rusting the griddles is foods that are high in acids, e.g., citrus fruits or tomatoes. The acid from these foods reacts with the iron to corrode it.
4. Keeping the grill in the kitchen will also rust it quickly. It is because the water vapors produced by cooking food and the steam react with it to catch rust.
5. Incorrect or haphazard cleaning is also one of the main reasons to rust the griddle. In addition, leaving the griddle half-dried after cleaning also contributes to catching rust.

1. Seasoning the griddle surface.
2. Storing the griddle in a dry and well-ventilated area far away from bathrooms or water sources.
3. Procure a good quality canvas cover for the griddle and store it there whenever not in use.
4. Cleaning thoroughly by following the appropriate instructions after cooking. Drying it thoroughly to wipe out the tiniest drop of water on it.
5. Ensure you don’t keep any other pricky metal utensils on the griddle surface. You may end up having scratches on it.
6. In the case of not using the griddle for over a week, checking it before using will help keep the rust in check. It’s easy to remove the rust when it is in a small proportion.

Conclusion

The Blackstone griddle is made up of iron and hence is prone to rust and there’s no simple answer to do blackstone griddles rust, other than that. The possibility of catching rust is higher in areas having high humidity. But with a little effort and care, it’s possible to clear the rust off the griddle.

It is also possible to prevent the griddle from rusting by seasoning it. You can do it all in your kitchen without any professional help. Cleaning thoroughly after each cooking and checking the griddle frequently, will help to keep the rust away for years.